The Cappadocian Corner

The Most Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr.?

2008-03-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

Whatever you are Republican or Democrat. Whether you are for or against Barack Obama. It is very interesting that Brite Divinty school (TCU) is holding a Summit on the State of the black church. And who are they honoring? Who did they decide to hold up as an example of what a black pastor should look like? Tony evans? No. None other than Jeremiah Wright Jr..

I think this decision shows a lack of wisdom and judgment by Brite Divinity school. The U.S. is not and will never be perect. I do not think the U.S. is some kind of new Israel or a new chosen people. And I am against an almost worship of our great country that occurs in some churches. However Rev. Wright's remarks go way too far.

In an interview on Fox News, Obama stated that he never heard those kinds of remarks. He had ony heard that Rev. Wright had said a couple of not so radical remarks. Obama said if he had heard those radical remarks then he woud have quit the church. Rev. Wright has been Obama's pastor for over 20 years. He married Obama and baptized his children. Many think it is remarkable, at best, that Obama never heard Rev. Wright's more radical remarks. I am not that suprised. After watching Obama waffle when asked the question if Obama was a member off Wright's church in good standing. He stated that they had many times when they did not attend often.

I do not see any justification for many of rev. Wright's comments. And Rev. Wright's concentration on "the black church" with "black leaders" and black salvation , etc. makes me wonder if he has ever read Galatians 3. One of the great things about Christianity is that we are no longer divided by things like race, sex, etc.. If we are "saved" then we are Christians and part of the one church. We are no longer black or white, make or female first. We are adopted sons of the Father first. And our identity is centered around that familial relationship.

But TCU is foolish to be honoring Rev. Wright so soon after all of the press about his comments. i can't see it being anything but negative for TCu and Brite Divinity school. There are so many outstanding black pastors out there in many different denominations. It was an error in judgement to honor rev. Wright instead of a pastor who deserves recognition.

The website for the event.
http://www.brite.tcu.edu/degrees/sbc.htm

Story at foxnews.com about Rev. Wright's remarks and the interview with Obama.
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/15/fallout-from-pastors-sermons-unknown-as-obama-attempts-damage-control/

You should able to hear some his comments here:
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?031408/031408_goldblatt_pastor&Americas_Pulse&%27God%20Damn%20America%27&acc&US&-1&News&422&&&exp

One of Those Songs . . .

2007-11-26T08:09:00.000-08:00

the B52s Love shack is one of those songs that come out that transcend all of music. Whatever the "Love Shack" really is is not important. The song took on a life and gave it meaning that transcends what the lyricist was writing. It has turned into an anthem of fun and happiness. I think the only recent song that has reached the level of this song is "He Ya!" by Outkast. Which I have also linked. Both songs are just fun and are timeless. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkMy4YWJb7Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvIw5ZqC1ms&feature=related

Peanuts version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brpub0hTbjs

Derrida

2007-11-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Here is Derrida on deconstruction and Christianity. What he is saying is either super intelligent or idiotic. I cannot tell which it is. I am thinking the latter.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b39WzjxgYss

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJM27tJHRAY

I do not think they have received the right message

2007-11-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Who Looks like Jesus?

2007-11-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

Below is a link to an interview with an ex-member of KORN who found Christ after seeing the effects his music had on his child. It is from the 700 Club which from time to time actually has some interesting stories on it. I am not a big fan of Pat Robertson but why throw the baby out with the bath water? Anyways it is intersting. And my wife thinks the guy looks a lot like Jesus and they have a picture of his baptism (in the Jordan river) in which he looks a lot like Jesus.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/700club_Brian_Head072007.aspx

Reformation and All Saints Day videos

2007-11-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

In honor of these two holidays tha only the radical fringe celebrate I give you some songs for the holidays.

Augustin is lustin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-AVpFBYMy0

Rap Battle: Luther vs. Leo X (Alert: some bad language and some really goofy high school kids)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlRZptjXtCg&NR=1

The protestant shuffle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwRp9vKKDbE

The Reformation Polka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU0f_qJLkLg

Chutes and Laterals!

2007-10-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest football plays ever.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=207187&cl=4788157&ch=207399&src=sports

Piper on Wright

2007-10-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

This is a link to an interview with John Piper about his new book The Future of Justification: A Response to N. T. Wright. The book is an argument against N.T. Wright and the New Perspective on Paul.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Interviews/2446_Interview_with_John_Piper_About_The_Future_of_Justification_A_Response_to_N_T_Wright/

Bart Ehrman vs. Richard Hays

2007-10-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

On another blog I frequent there is a debate/discussion between Dr. Bart Ehrman and Dr. Richard Hays.

Dr. Bart Ehrman received his PhD at Princeton and is currently the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also the author of The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture and Lost Christianities.

Richard Hays received his PhD from Emory and is currently the George Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament at UNC Chapel Hill. He has authored many texts such as
The Moral Vision of the New Testament, The Art of Reading Scripture, and Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul.

It is a lively discussion. I think what is most interesting is the different starting points each scholar takes and their views on the unity/diversity of Scripture.

http://dunelm.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/richard-hays-vs-bart-ehrman-25-april-2006/

Sola Scriptura

2007-10-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Interesting quote from Cyril of Alexandria for those claiming sola scriptura.

"But be well assured that the followers of every heresy gather the occasions of their error from the God-inspired Scriptures, corrupting in their evil minds the things rightly said through the Holy Spirit, and drawing upon their own heads the unquenchable flame."

From the Epistle to John of Antioch. Called today the Formula of Reunion

Willow Creek Repents!

2007-10-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

I lived in Chicago during the year 1991. One Sunday morning I happened to attend a large, very popular, and contemporary church called Willow Creek. Since then the size of the church and its ministry outreach has grown by leaps and bounds.

However, I was not particularly found of my experience on that warm Sunday morning in 1991. I remember there some sort of rope ladder on stage and the pastor used it to communicate a very basic message of salvation of some sort. I got nothing from the presentation. My father, who went with me, still remarks to this day about how so many were wearing shorts to church and how it felt like going to a rock concert.

Disclaimer: I do not think my dad has ever been to a rock concert. He was born in 1940 and thus in that old generation.

But I remember it was the definition of seeker sensitive and even then (pre-seminary days) knew it was not how church should be done. Well it seems maybe Willow Creek agrees with me now.

Bill Hybels stated in a recent article by Christianity Today:

We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.

It seems they recently did a qualitative study of their church and its ministries and unfortunately it did not produce positive results. However the quote above and this next one gives me some reason to have hope that Hybels and Willow Creek might turn things around.

Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for.

Hopefully they will not put more and more millions into the next new thing instead of thinking about the older and cheaper things the church used to do. (i.e. liturgy, spiritual direction, expository preaching) But I am not 100% sure that they will not just go down the same path with now new and improved model that will unfortunately try and change all that wrong and right in Church's today.

Our dream is that we fundamentally change the way we do church. That we take out a clean sheet of paper and we rethink all of our old assumptions. Replace it with new insights. Insights that are informed by research and rooted in Scripture. Our dream is really to discover what God is doing and how he’s asking us to transform this planet.

One can read the full article here: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2007/10/willow_creek_re.html

Check out the videos offered on the link above also.

Joel Osteen did not go to Seminary?

2007-10-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

Watching these videos made me laugh, cry and then get very afraid. It is so scary that he is the pastor of the nation's largest church. It is easy why so many people like him. He is so nice. But his smile might send some to hell.

Here is two about Joel Osteen

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2007/10/17/lkl.joel.osteen.cnn?iref=videosearch

https://mail.swbts.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/11/60minutes/main3358652.shtml

And here is one which displays the dangers of his type of theology.

https://mail.swbts.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://youtube.com/watch?v=ukcV-xtU3hc

Here is a guy who was street preaching outside of Lakewood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu9k60-GgVk&mode=related&search=

And here is a guy who wrote a poem about feel good preachers and their messages. However I do not know what is scarier Osteen's smile or this guy. Watch the video and you will see what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aNLocbYYsM&watch_response

And the really shocking part is that he never went to seminary. No? Really?

Rush!

2007-09-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

2 Reasons Why Rush is the best band ever!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXCZvRNgLnI&mode=related&search =

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOqVywCg934&mode=related&search=

Wise Advice about Theological Arguments from the NAZ!

2007-08-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

There are many controversies that the SBC is engaged in right now within itself. They range from theological discussions about baptism, church membership and fellowship to poltiical discussions about seminary presidents and those that oppose them. And while I think all of Gregory's many works should be read and pondered, I find these words from his 1st Theological Oration especially wise advice for the SBC and for all of us today.

Orations 27 (Theological Oration 1) 27.5-6.

I will still call you Brethren, though you do not behave like brothers). Let us not think so nor yet, like hot tempered and hard mouthed horses, throwing off our rider Reason, and casting away Reverence, that keeps us within due limits, run far away from the turning point, but let us philosophize within our proper bounds, and not be carried away into Egypt, nor be swept down into Assyria nor sing the Lord’s song in a strange land, by which I mean before any kind of audience, strangers or kindred, hostile or friendly, kindly or the reverse, who watch what we do with over great care, and would like the spark of what is wrong in us to become a flame, and secretly kindle and fan it and raise it to heaven with their breath and make it higher than the Babylonian flame which burnt up every thing around it. For since their strength lies not in their own dogmas, they hunt for it in our weak points. And therefore they apply themselves to our—shall I say “misfortunes” or “failings”?—like flies to wounds. But let us at least be no longer ignorant of ourselves, or pay too little attention to the due order in these matters. And if it be impossible to put an end to the existing hostility, let us at least agree upon this, that we will utter Mysteries under our breath, and holy things in a holy manner, and we will not cast to ears profane that which may not be uttered, nor give evidence that we possess less gravity than those who worship demons, and serve shameful fables and deeds; for they would sooner give their blood to the uninitiated than certain words. But let us recognize that as in dress and diet and laughter and demeanour there is a certain decorum, so there is also in speech and silence; since among so many titles and powers of God, we pay the highest honour to The Word. Let even our disputings then be kept within bounds.
VI. Why should a man who is a hostile listener to such words be allowed to hear about the Generation of God, or his creation, or how God was made out of things which had no existence, or of section and analysis and division? Why do we make our accusers judges? Why do we put swords into the hands of our enemies? How, thinkest thou, or with what temper, will the arguments about such subjects be received by one who approves of adulteries, and corruption of children, and who worships the passions and cannot conceive of aught higher than the body…who till very lately set up gods for himself, and gods too who were noted for the vilest deeds? Will it not first be from a material standpoint, shamefully and ignorantly, and in the sense to which he has been accustomed? Will he not make thy Theology a defence for his own gods and passions? For if we ourselves wantonly misuse these words, it will be a long time before we shall persuade them to accept our philosophy. And if they are in their own persons inventors of evil things, how should they refrain from grasping at such things when offered to them? Such results come to us from mutual contest. Such results follow to those who fight for the Word beyond what the Word approves; they are behaving like mad people, who set their own house on fire, or tear their own children, or disavow their own parents, taking them for strangers.

Minister's Wife Who Killed Husband Freed

2007-08-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

Does this just seem wrong to anyone else besides me?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/14/national/main3167002.shtml?source=mostpop_story

Sudan

2007-08-13T06:45:00.000-07:00

Below is a link to an important feature that aired on 60 minutes. It is about the genocide in the African country of Sudan. After watching it I felt ashamed because for far too long I have watched on the sidelines while atrocities happen. I get all emotional and think about Daniel and then thank God it has not. But I do nothing. God has used this feature to call me to action. I will be looking for ways to get involved in stopping these kinds of things in the future.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

Christian Cappadocia

2007-07-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

An interesting look at the Cappadocian region in present day Turkey. I can just envision Basil and the two Gregorys walking around talking about theology and contemplating God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnTarAH8dIw

Nightline and Return of the Jedi

2007-07-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

This is an early discussion of Return of the Jedi with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert and one Humbug. It is intersting just seeing how old everything looks and remembering the past.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB3V3qyZiFM

I WISH I WAS A PATRISITC SCHOLAR!

2007-07-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Noted Reformation historian Carl Trueman posted this short article on the Reformation21 online magazine. http://reformation21.com/Reformation_21_Blog/Reformation_21_Blog/58/pm__114/vobId__5903/

Here is a quote which clearly shows why Patristics is where it is all at:

"If I had my time over again, I would have studied patristics rather than Reformation; the evangelical Protestant world has a dearth of good patristic scholars. Michael Haykin and Don Fairbairn are notable exceptions; but we have not done well in this field as a whole; and we have neglected it to our own impoverishment."- Carl Trueman

Ben Cole

2007-07-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

Many know I do not like the way Ben Cole acts in the blogosphere. Even if you think there is real change that needs to happen in the SBC, Ben Cole makes it easy for those who do not want change to stop it in its tracks. All who publicly ask for change can now be compared to Ben and his antics. They can now be brushed off and not even engaged seriously. I have tried to demonstrate to some on http://www.sbcoutpost.com/ to think what their affiliation with Ben is doing to their lasting influence. Ben cole is often rude and crude in his posts. He privately and publicly ridicules many. I know of one consistent blogger who won't go to SBCoutpost because of him. Also this same blogger sent him an email to see if they could work things out in a biblical way. What was Ben Cole's reply? Basically that the blogger needed to grow up. I think Ben needs to take his own advice there.

I found the link below that filled me in on just how Ben Cole became what he is today. How he is more interested in the politics of the SBC than Christ like love and service. It is interesting that i can find his blog easily while searching on Google but not his church's website. (if there is one). I think it is sad when church politics become more important than faith.

http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2547

Why be Christ- Like?

2007-07-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

This is the first installment of good theology brought to you by one or more of the Cappadocian Fathers. Today's installment is from Gregory of Nazianzen. In his first oration Gregory makes it clear why one should do his best to be Godly. i will let him speak for himself.

Oration 1.4-5.

IV. Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; to-day I am quickened with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him; to-day I rise with Him. But let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us—you will think perhaps that I am going to say gold, or silver, or woven work or transparent and costly stones, the mere passing material of earth, that remains here below, and is for the most part always possessed by bad men, slaves of the world and of the Prince of the world. Let us offer ourselves, the possession most precious to God, and most fitting; let us give back to the Image what is made after the Image. Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honour our Archetype; let us know the power of the Mystery, and for what Christ died.

V. Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. Let us become God’s for His sake, since He for ours became Man. He assumed the worse that He might give us the better; He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich; 2 Cor. viii. 9.
He took upon Him the form of a servant that we might receive back our liberty; He came down that we might be exalted; He was tempted that we might conquer; He was dishonoured that He might glorify us; He died that He might save us; He ascended that He might draw to Himself us, who were lying low in the Fall of sin. Let us give all, offer all, to Him Who gave Himself a Ransom and a Reconciliation for us. But one can give nothing like oneself, understanding the Mystery, and becoming for His sake all that He became for ours.

2007-07-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

LIVE EARTH AND THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS

I watched some of the Live Earth concert this weekend. Overall I think the music was not very good and it was probably more of a waste than anything else since it will probably be forgotten very soon. But what struck me was something Alicia Keys said. I cannot find the exact quote but she said that she that she was excited and pumped up that people from so many different continents were all rallying around one good cause. Here is a link to the closest thing I found to the quote I heard on tv. http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1564250&vid=161346

It made me wonder why could not the church do such a thing? Why could not the church have a Live Church Concert or at least all come together as one church and state the Christ is Lord?

Some would say it is because there are some real differences between the denominations thus we cannot come together as one. While I can see this might be a good point with coming together with very liberal Christians (or very conservative) I do not see how this argument works for the many denominations and groups that are basically conservative and believe in the Lordship of Christ. In the end the only answer that truly works is that the church does not really want to become one. It does not really want to come together to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord! We are just too busy with our differences and our petty disputes to do what is really important.

I am not arguing that there should just be one denomination or all churches needed to be reunited with Rome or Constaniople. What I am saying is that all Christian churches need to be unified in such a way that we can work together to proclaim in one loud voice that Jesus is Lord.

We need to take some lessons from the Apostolic Fathers and read their writings. I have also been reading the Apostolic Fathers recently. One of their major concerns was the unity of the church. In Ignatius' Letter to the Ephesians he says:

It is therefore befitting that you should in every way glorify Jesus Christ, who hath glorified you, that by a unanimous obedience “ye may be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, and may all speak the same thing concerning the same thing,”and that, being subject to the bishop and the presbytery, ye may in all respects be sanctified. (Epistle to the Ephesians Chapter 2)

And Clement of Rome arguing against the authors of sedition states:

It is right and holy therefore, men and brethren, rather to obey God than to follow those who, through pride and sedition, have become the leaders of a detestable emulation. For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and tumults, so as to draw us away from what is good. Let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender mercy and benignity of our Creator. (Epistle to the Corinthians Chapter 14)

For the Apostolic Fathers one of the greatest sins was disunity of the body of Christ. I think the church needs to relearn this early lesson which Paul and the Church Fathers constantly taught.

Do I see a day when this lesson will be learned? No. Throughout church history there has always been schisms and heresies. From the earliest days of Paul writing to the Church in Galatia and to the Corinthian Church there were schisms and since then it has only become worse.

A Swedish Lutheran friend of mine said he believes that his dream of church unity will be realized before the return of Christ. I believe it will only be realized with the return of Christ but that does not exclude us from trying to live in unity in Christ.

BH

2007-07-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am new to this blogging thing but I have been told that I think differently about things (I do not know if that is good or bad?) so I thought I would give it a try. For the first post I thought I would just introduce myself.

My name is Carl Peterson. I am 35 years old and I was born in Houston. My family went to an Evangelical Free Church until I was in 4th grade and then we became Baptist. I have been a member of West Memorial Baptist, First Baptist Houston, Texas Oaks Baptist, Grace of the good Shepherd Baptist, and now I am currently at Wedwood Baptist church. I am in the ThM. program at SWBTS. I do not know if I will finish or start my doctoral work at Fordham or Masters work at Notre Dame or Yale next year. I am interested in Eastern Patristics (Church Fathers). I want to concentrate on Gregory of Nazianzus who was one of the three Cappadocians from which this blog gets its name.

I have 1 wife (Sharon) and 1 child (Daniel 13 months). Besides God they are the love of my life. In this blog I hope to bring a different way of looking at things. I will have many posts on the church Fathers and my reading of them. Besides the church Fathers the blog will be heavily influenced by the Eastern Church and by my many friends. This blog will cover everything from politics to Christian living. But I hope all will be interesting. That is all for now.

Peace and be well.

Blackhaw- Carl Peterson